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Canada Standard
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Canada Standard
Alberta youth have the right to school library books that reflect their lives, including sexuality
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has expressed fondness for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, most recently wagering a a friendly public bet on the NHL hockey playoffs. In 2023, she said she wanted Albertans to enjoy some of the same freedoms available to citizens in certain American states, including Florida. Her government's latest proposal aims to take more than a page from DeSantis's playbook, setting its sights on how Florida has targeted school library books, effectively purging and banning many. Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides recently announced the province will move ahead to develop provincial standards "to ensure the age-appropriateness of materials available to students in school libraries." This followed a public engagement survey related to what he said were concerns about "sexually explicit" books in Edmonton and Calgary schools. The province says the survey results show "strong support" for a school library policy, even while the majority of respondents don't want the government setting standards for school library books. This marks the Alberta government's latest effort to restrict the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ children and youth. Like Florida's statute on K-12 instructional materials, Alberta's proposal centres on age-appropriateness and increasing parental choice in learning materials. Despite claiming a need for new standards, Nicolaides has acknowledged there are already mechanisms in place in Alberta's school jurisdictions for parents to challenge materials. Many school boards already have policies governing school library materials. Additionally, librarians are trained professionals who follow established practices around organizing materials that reflect developmental appropriateness. Florida's statute, framed by DeSantis as empowering parents to object to obscene material, has targeted 2,700 books. More than 700 were removed from libraries in 2023-24. Read more: Ron DeSantis shows how 'ugly freedoms' are being used to fuel authoritarianism Confusion and a climate of fear caused by the bill has led Florida teachers and librarians to self-censor. Florida's Department of Education urged districts to "err on the side of caution" to avoid potential felony charges. Such fear and surveillance lead to unnecessary restrictions on students' rights. Nicolaides has emphasized that developing the new standards in Alberta is not a question of "banning certain books," and has acknowledged he does not have that authority. However, as PEN Canada notes, the implications of the proposed policies raise alarm bells, with the government's actions "paving the way to a new era of government-sponsored book banning." Singling out books has the same effect as a ban, according to the CEO of the St. Albert Public Library. By labelling four books as inappropriate - three of which include 2SLGBTQIA+ authors and themes - Nicolaides suggests these books don't belong in K-12 schools. One of the books, the graphic novel Flamer, has won several awards, including the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Young Adult Literature in 2021. The education minister refuted the idea that singling out the books is anti-queer or anti-trans, and did so in an inflammatory manner, characterizing concern as being about protecting children from seeing porn, child molestation and other sexual content. Nicolaides also said the proposed policy is focused on sexual content, so themes and depictions of graphic violence are "probably not" an issue. Alberta has already rolled back the rights of trans and non-binary children and youth to use different pronouns, access gender-affirming care and participate in sports. Queer and trans identities are also absent from all subjects in the K-12 program of studies, including recently updated K-6 curriculum. New sexual health resource guidelines prohibit the use of learning materials that primarily and explicitly address sexual orientation or gender identity unless they have been vetted and approved by Alberta Education (except for use in religion classes). Through specific communication tactics, the minister's public engagement works to exacerbate moral panics about sexuality as a threat to childhood innocence. This influences broader messages about 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion. The government-created survey shared illustrations and text excerpts on their own, without context or consideration of their narrative purpose in each book. Although the excerpts flagged by the minister make up between 0.1 to two per cent of the total page count in each book, the books as a whole are labelled "extremely graphic." In a media appearance, Nicolaides stated the books in question were available to "elementary-aged" students. This is misleading because K-9 schools include junior high students. In a social media post, the minister's press secretary said "these problematic books were found in and around books like Goldilocks," suggesting targeted books are alongside children's storybooks. But the image he shared showed Flamer near the graphic novel Goldilocks: Wanted Dead or Alive, aimed at middle-grade readers aged nine to 12 years old. The survey reported 77,395 responses by demographics, including parents, teachers, school administrators, librarians and other interested Albertans. Forty-nine per cent of parents of school-aged children were not at all or not very supportive of the creation of government guidelines, compared to 44 per cent of the same demographic who were somewhat or very supportive (eight per cent were unsure). Across each other demographic, most respondents expressed that they didn't support the creation of new government standards. But the ministry plans to move ahead anyway. The Investigative Journalism Foundation reports two conservative activist groups have taken credit for giving the Alberta government names of books believed to be inappropriate. Parental rights groups and far-right activists have long asserted that 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in schools "indoctrinates" and sexualizes children. We're concerned the Alberta government may be reinforcing this message to manufacture a greater public consensus in support of wider policies against 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. Since at least 2023, United Conservative Party (UCP) members have embraced socially conservative "parental rights" rhetoric and supported motions for purging school libraries and mandating parent approval of changes to kids' names and pronouns. Far-right activist groups like Take Back Alberta have shaped the UCP government's policies alongside special interest groups like Action4Canada and Parents for Choice in Education. A common thread among such groups is parental authority over one's own children framed in traditionalist or hetero-normative terms. Significant mobilizing has happened against the inclusion of sexual orientations and gender identities in school curricula, trans-inclusive health care, drag shows, conversion therapy bans and more. Read more: Pride, pages and performance: Why drag story time matters more than ever Queer and trans identities are viewed as a social contagion threatening to change anyone exposed to them, and efforts for inclusion are labelled "gender ideology." These misconceptions, combined with political and religious biases, frame queerness and transness as "adult topics" that will confuse or harm children. However, research confirms ignoring these topics is of far greater concern when children may already experience discrimination about their gender expression by the age of five. Earlier learning about diverse forms of gender expression and relationships can reduce victimization, and prevent young children from becoming perpetrators of, or bystanders to, anti-2SLGBTQIA+ harassment and violence. Read more: 'Parental rights' lobby puts trans and queer kids at risk The United Nations recognizes that governments need to resist political pressure "based on child protection arguments to block access to information on [2SLGBTQIA+] issues, or to provide negatively biased information." Access to self-selected literature is important for all students, and can be a lifeline for 2SLGBTQIA+ students who don't see themselves in the curriculum. If Alberta Education will not prepare students for the world they live in - where we queer and trans people exist, flourish and are loved - then students should be able to seek out stories that reflect that world. It's a matter of protecting their freedom of expression.
Canada News.Net
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Alberta youth have the right to school library books that reflect their lives, including sexuality
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has expressed fondness for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, most recently wagering a a friendly public bet on the NHL hockey playoffs. In 2023, she said she wanted Albertans to enjoy some of the same freedoms available to citizens in certain American states, including Florida. Her government's latest proposal aims to take more than a page from DeSantis's playbook, setting its sights on how Florida has targeted school library books, effectively purging and banning many. Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides recently announced the province will move ahead to develop provincial standards " to ensure the age-appropriateness of materials available to students in school libraries." This followed a public engagement survey related to what he said were concerns about "sexually explicit" books in Edmonton and Calgary schools. , even while the majority of respondents don't want the government setting standards for school library books. This marks the Alberta government's latest effort to restrict the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ children and youth. Like Florida's statute on K-12 instructional materials, Alberta's proposal centres on age-appropriateness and increasing parental choice in learning materials. Despite claiming a need for new standards, Nicolaides has acknowledged there are already mechanisms in place in Alberta's school jurisdictions for parents to challenge materials. Many school boards already have policies governing school library materials. Additionally, librarians are trained professionals . Florida's statute, framed by DeSantis as empowering parents to object to obscene material, has targeted 2,700 books. More than 700 were removed from libraries in 2023-24. Confusion and a climate of fear caused by the bill has led Florida teachers and librarians to self-censor. Florida's Department of Education urged districts to " err on the side of caution" to avoid potential felony charges. Such fear and surveillance lead to unnecessary restrictions on students' rights. Nicolaides has emphasized that developing the new standards in Alberta is not a question of "banning certain books," and has acknowledged he does not have that authority. However, as PEN Canada notes, the implications of the proposed policies raise alarm bells, with the government's actions "paving the way to a new era of government-sponsored book banning." Singling out books has the same effect as a ban, according to the CEO of the St. Albert Public Library. By labelling four books as inappropriate - three of which include 2SLGBTQIA+ authors and themes - Nicolaides suggests these books don't belong in K-12 schools. One of the books, the graphic novel Flamer, has won several awards, including the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Young Adult Literature in 2021. The education minister refuted the idea that singling out the books is anti-queer or anti-trans, and did so in an inflammatory manner, characterizing concern as being about protecting children from seeing porn, child molestation and other sexual content. Nicolaides also said the proposed policy is focused on sexual content, so themes and depictions of graphic violence are "probably not" an issue. Alberta has already rolled back the rights of trans and non-binary children and youth to use different pronouns, access gender-affirming care and participate in sports. Queer and trans identities are also absent from all subjects in the K-12 program of studies, including recently updated K-6 curriculum. New sexual health resource guidelines prohibit the use of learning materials that primarily and explicitly address sexual orientation or gender identity unless they have been vetted and approved by Alberta Education (except for use in religion classes). Through specific communication tactics, the minister's public engagement works to exacerbate moral panics about sexuality as a threat to childhood innocence. This influences broader messages about 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion. The government-created survey shared illustrations and text excerpts on their own, without context or consideration of their narrative purpose in each book. Although the excerpts flagged by the minister make up between 0.1 to two per cent of the total page count in each book, the books as a whole are labelled "extremely graphic." In a media appearance, Nicolaides stated the books in question were available to "elementary-aged" students. This is misleading because K-9 schools include junior high students. In a social media post, the minister's press secretary said "these problematic books were found in and around books like Goldilocks," suggesting targeted books are alongside children's storybooks. But the image he shared showed Flamer near the graphic novel Goldilocks: Wanted Dead or Alive, aimed at middle-grade readers aged nine to 12 years old. The survey reported 77,395 responses by demographics, including parents, teachers, school administrators, librarians and other interested Albertans. Forty-nine per cent of parents of school-aged children were not at all or not very supportive of the creation of government guidelines, compared to 44 per cent of the same demographic who were somewhat or very supportive (eight per cent were unsure). Across each other demographic, most respondents expressed that they didn't support the creation of new government standards. But the ministry plans to move ahead anyway. The Investigative Journalism Foundation reports two conservative activist groups have taken credit for giving the Alberta government names of books believed to be inappropriate. Parental rights groups and far-right activists have long asserted that 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in schools " indoctrinates" and sexualizes children. We're concerned the Alberta government may be reinforcing this message to manufacture a greater public consensus in support of wider policies against 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. Since at least 2023, United Conservative Party (UCP) members have embraced socially conservative "parental rights" rhetoric and supported motions for purging school libraries and mandating parent approval of changes to kids' names and pronouns. Far-right activist groups like Take Back Alberta have shaped the UCP government's policies alongside special interest groups like Action4Canada and Parents for Choice in Education. A common thread among such groups is parental authority over one's own children framed in traditionalist or hetero-normative terms. Significant mobilizing has happened against the inclusion of sexual orientations and gender identities in school curricula, trans-inclusive health care, drag shows, conversion therapy bans and more. Queer and trans identities are viewed as a social contagion threatening to change anyone exposed to them, and efforts for inclusion are labelled "gender ideology." These misconceptions, combined with political and religious biases, frame queerness and transness as "adult topics" that will confuse or harm children. However, research confirms ignoring these topics is of far greater concern when children may already experience discrimination about their gender expression by the age of five. Earlier learning about diverse forms of gender expression and relationships can reduce victimization, and prevent young children from becoming perpetrators of, or bystanders to, anti-2SLGBTQIA+ harassment and violence. The United Nations recognizes that governments need to resist political pressure "based on child protection arguments to block access to information on [2SLGBTQIA+] issues, or to provide negatively biased information." Access to self-selected literature is important for all students, and can be a lifeline for 2SLGBTQIA+ students who don't see themselves in the curriculum. If Alberta Education will not prepare students for the world they live in - where we queer and trans people exist, flourish and are loved - then students should be able to seek out stories that reflect that world. It's a matter of protecting their freedom of expression.
CBC
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
War, displacement and collaboration are main themes in Hot Docs 'Made in Exile' program
Social Sharing Director Timeea Mohamed Ahmed did not know exactly the kind of movie he was making when he signed on to Khartoum. He knew the documentary, which had its sold-out Canadian premiere at Toronto's Hot Docs Festival, would focus on his native Sudan. He knew it would bring together multiple directors from the country to tell their stories. But what the crew couldn't know was how a sudden war in Sudan would make it almost impossible to craft the film, and eventually, impossible to stay there to finish it. In 2023, the team was forced to flee to parts of East Africa, where they finished the film through creative tools like green screens and animation, having their subjects re-enact scenarios that weren't possible to film in person. And given the recent wars that have broken out across the world, Ahmed is far from alone. He's part of a cohort of filmmakers at this year's festival, whose work is highlighted under the "Made in Exile" banner. The new category is co-sponsored by the PEN Canada non-profit, and highlights stories of war and crisis in artists' homelands that they've had to leave. Despite the tragedy inherent to the category, Ahmed and other filmmakers see within its scope surprising signs of hope. The films highlight their creators' unique strategies, as well as the collaboration inspired by their obstacles. That, he said, is a heartening boon for a medium already on the ropes. "This film has a Palestinian editor, Italian producer — it has so much [more] people than I thought possible, from different countries and nationalities and languages," Ahmed said of Khartoum. "It showed me that exile can be also an advantage more than it's a disadvantage." WATCH | Hot Docs is back after a year of financial strife, worries: Hot Docs Festival returns after year of financial woes 1 month ago Duration 2:41 Category came partly from financial troubles According to Hot Docs' programming director Heather Haynes, the opportunity came about partly from the organization's very public financial woes. As the festival employed some "right-sizing" techniques — dropping its total film count down from 214 in 2023 to 113 films in 2025 — updating the Made In program to cover artists from more than one country or region also seemed like a timely change. (The category typically highlights a specific country's work under the "Made in" format.) The team had wanted to try the project out for the last three years, she said. But the state of the world in 2025 made it a particularly urgent year for testing. One of the affected filmmakers was Areeb Zuaiter, the Palestinian director of the 2024 sold-out Hot Docs film Yalla Parkour. She made that documentary, which follows a young parkour athlete attempting to emigrate from Gaza, over the course of 10 years. The film was created in advance of Hamas's attack on Israel — and Israel's subsequent war — and is billed as a last glimpse of a pre-Oct. 7 Gaza. But Zuaiter's personal sense of exile from a Palestinian state predates the war: Though she was born in Nablus in the West Bank, she and her parents left when she was an infant. Along with annual trips back to Nablus, they made a one-time visit to Gaza, where the memory of her mother's smile by the seaside made a particular impression on her. Meeting the young parkour athlete coloured Zuaiter's personal connection to the territory, and she observes that his desire to leave the territory triggers her own guilt for having left so many years ago. And as the war intensified, so did her project's theme. "My full attention was [in] showing … the conditions in Gaza, how [Gazans] have this spirit that I eventually ended up calling the Palestinian spirit, that reminded me of my mom," she said. "But then when everything happened lately, we felt this sense of [urgency] that we need to finish this film. And at the same time, we will be insensitive if we don't address what's going on." Shame, trauma and hope That impulse also coloured the creation of The Longer You Bleed, another entry. It looks at the endless stream of violent footage from Russia's war in Ukraine shared on social media, and the toll it takes on young Ukrainians. The idea first came from Liubov Dyvak's phone. Dyvak, the film's Ukrainian producer and subject, made the doc with her partner and director, Ewan Waddell. Dyvak is currently based in Germany, and like many Ukrainians, she uses her phone for activism, Waddell said, and saves images she's seen online and from friends. But she found that the phone, as part of its settings, would automatically generate collages of images she'd downloaded, pairing them with bubbly pop music. Just before they started work on what would become the film, her phone made another one: a montage of destroyed buildings, rubble and civilians without legs. Though she was physically in a safe space, at the same time she felt constantly traumatized by social media, she said: "I noticed this kind of guilt of survival … and shame. And not being able to share your experience because it feels [like] people from your country experience, also, physical danger. Which is much more intense." Liubov said it reinforced both the horror of the war, and the separation she had from her friends in other parts of Europe — people who largely used social media innocently, and without encountering as much graphic violence as she did. It also made her wonder about her connection to other Ukrainians, given her experience of being in a sort of exile — of not being physically in her home, but seeing her friends' experiences second-hand through their shared images. But working on the documentary itself helped to alleviate some of that guilt. Talking to other Ukrainians in her situation — similarly removed from their home country during the war — made her feel more connected, not less.
